Matt, when you asked my permission to marry Allison, you melted my heart. Even though I had a hunch that it was coming, and therefore I was technically prepared for the question, I was not at all prepared for how it would make me feel. I'll never be able to recall your exact words and I could never match your eloquence so I won't try to paraphrase, but I'll never forget the joy that settled into my heart in that moment. I couldn't decide who I was happier for, Allison or myself as her mother. It is with absolute pleasure that I embrace you as my son-in-law.

I love my daughter very much, and I adore the woman that she has blossomed into with your influence. You've taken something that was always inside her, and you've set it free. And it is beautiful to watch and witness. I can't wait to see the wife that she becomes and of course, I can't wait to see her become a mother – no pressure!